The Relationship between Alexithymia and Types C and D Personalities in People with Depression Disorders

Background and Aim: Patients with depression disorders impose annually huge costs on their families and society. With a meticulous glance to the literature, lack of sufficient studies regarding Alexithymia and Types C and D Personalities are obvious. Thus, the aim of current study is investigation the relationship of Alexithymia with Types C and D Personalities in depressed individuals. Materials and Method: Current study through descriptive-correlation analysis examines the relationship between the mentioned variables on a sample of 150 patients. This sample was selected via simple random sampling method among all the depressed people in city of Tehran (as the statistical population) who in years 2012-2013 had visited treatment and diagnostic centers. The sample patients were asked to answer Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) (1974), Denollet Type D Personality Questionnaire (1998), Torento-Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20) (Bagby, Parker & Taylor, 1994). The obtained data were analyzed using bivariate regression analysis and Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Results: Findings demonstrated significant relationship between Alexithymia and Type C personality, but there was not significant relationship between Alexithymia and D personality type. In addition, there was no significant difference in terms of personality types between two genders, but women acquired higher score in Alexithymia and Type C personality than men. Conclusion: With respect to research results, close relationship between mood and personality was noticed and women had high vulnerability comparing to men. On this basis, it is necessary for clinicians to implement specific therapy measures to decrease Alexithymia in women.